DOYLINE'S IZAYLA HARRIS COMPETES IN THE 100m AT THE LHSAA CLASS B STATE OUTDOOR MEET!
There were more people in the stands on Thursday evening for the Raider Relays than the population of both Doyline and Logansport, but that did not stop two of the best small-town sprinters in Louisiana from showing out at Lee Hedges Stadium in Shreveport.
Doyline's Izayla Harris, or "the Queen from Doyline" as Coach Mychal Word referred to her on Thursday over the public address system, put on a show winning the 100m (12.04), 200m (25.01), 400m (1:00.51), and finishing second in the triple jump (34-4).
MileSplit LA spoke with her after her win in the 100m.
"I was a little nervous," Harris said. "When I got in the blocks, I just told myself to go. That's all I do. Go."
In that race, Harris was competing against Huntington's Demetria Harris, a competitor she knew well from their time together during the summer on the River Cities Track Club.
"I'm impressed with everything she does," Harris said. "The way she jumps. The work she puts in. All of that."
Thursday's race between the two was a bit of a sneak peek for track and field fans of the SWAC. Izayla Harris has signed with Alcorn State University. Demetria Harris announced on Friday that she is committed to Southern University.
Before Izayla Harris goes to Alcorn, she has some unfinished business as she closes out her high school career.
"I want to win the MVP (LHSAA Class B State Outdoor Meet) again," Harris said. "I want to win all four of my events including the triple jump, and I want to go as a team-not just me."
In the boys division, it was Logansport's Jamarcus Jones, who is the No. 2 ranked sprinter in the state with a time of 10.24. Thursday, he won the 100m with a time of 10.64. He also won the 200m with a time of 21.72.
In the 100m, it was his teammate D'avery Robinson who had the best start in the talented field, but it did not take Jones long to find the right gear.
"I just tried to finish," Jones said. "I kicked it in to second gear because I have about three. I just kicked it into second and stayed with it.
Robinson finished third with a 10.84 giving the Logansport Tigers two sprinters on the podium. Evangel's Tyreek Robinson was second with a 10.82.
"It feels good (having a teammate who can push him)," Jones said. "He makes me PR. I make him PR. He has that fast start-better than mine, but it makes me better."